The Testament

Rating:
Summary: 1st 75 pages are terrific..downhill from there..unsatisfying
Review: This book is a stunning disappointment from a terrific trial lawyer, whose previous books always held the reader's interest. The first 75 pages of this book are intriging and keep you on your toes, however the lenghty and totally unbelievable treks to Bolivia are verbose and I tended to skim. None of the characters, including the main character, Nate O'Riley, are interesting. Incidentally, the remaining characters, including all of the respective attorneys in this book (of which there are many)have no redeeming features. All of Grisham's previous books presented a character worht rooting for; not here. Walk, don't run to buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: What an adventure-another excellent work!
Review: Since I have recently returned from Brazil, this book sparked my interest because of his incredible descriptions, Portugese language, and the kindness of the people & memories that were stirred as well as John Grisham's incredible way of weaving a story together. The Testament kept my attention from the beginning to the end and I hated that it ended! This may be one of his greatest books yet!

Rating:
Summary: Formula writing with a slight variation
Review: Other than great descriptions of Brazil, totally predictable. Alcoholic goes to the jungle, sees the light, changes his life. Ho-hum. Try again, John.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful story teller
Review: As usual, Mr. Grisham, is a masterful story teller. This book is the first book I have read in a long time that places a Christian in a positive image. I am thankful to Mr. Crisham for placing the truth of Christianity in his book. Christians are not perfect, they fall down and then they get up just like themain character of this novel. I hope that Mr. Crisham continues to write stories as great as this. This is the best one yet.

Rating:
Summary: more like a travelogue than an adventure
Review: This is the first Grisham book that took me a week to finish. The plot was dull and predictable; the characters sparsely and hastily sketched. Just because he took a trip to Brazil doesn't mean it's fodder for an adventure novel.I miss the twists and turns and tension I found in his last books.

Rating:
Summary: The Testament is Minor League
Review: Reading The Testament is like watching Micheal Jordan play minor league baseball. You just pray he'll get back to his true calling soon. The detour started with The Partner and has continued with The Street Lawyer and The Testament. Grisham's heart and soul is the Deep South and it's complex issues and compelling characters. When you add the expert legal drama it's magic. The Testament has no magic. The plot is strained and sometimes preachy, and I never liked or sympathized with any of the characters. The only saving grace is the interesting legal manuvering which Grisham never fails to deliver on. Hopefully sometime soon he'll release a new book that says "I'm Back!"

Rating:
Summary: FAR from his best
Review: This is not the same John Grisham that kept us gripping the book 'white-knuckled' in The Client and The Partner. I was spoiled by Mr. Grisham's earlier books, but since Street Lawyer and now Testament fell flat - I think Mr. Baldacci is #1. Thanks for the memories, John.

Rating:
Summary: MAN HITS BOTTOM, COMES OUT ON TOP!
Review: In my opinion this is Mr. Grisham's best book yet. The story and the characters are very believable for I have met such people in my lifetime. The descriptions of Brazil were fantastic. I could empathize with Nate--I don't like snakes and gators either. Very well written and I couldn't put it down. Loved the happy ending. Man lost self, man finds self. Need more books like this.

Rating:
Summary: Yet another Grisham title beginning in "The."
Review: Yes, it is an abomination unequalled in modern or ancient literature. Mr. Womble-Gaffyn-Crwth, as I prefer to call him, has to date titled all of his novels, save one, with the same initial article. How can we, as civilised human beings, condone such a fascist principle as this. And as if it weren't something enough already, I feel furthermore a distinct pain in my corpus callosum brought on no doubt by the horrible goat cheese sold to me as genuine antique gerbil riding harness of the first water by that FIEND FROM THE STYGIAN DEPTHS, John "The Title" Grisham. I go now.

Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY ENTERTAINING
Review: EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! Grisham makes you feel like you are there with the characters. I loved the descriptions of the Pantanal. Is the person from Russia just NOW getting that Grisham's books are all about Southern lawyers? Every TRUE Grisham fan doesn't care because the stories are always superb.